William Thomas "Puck" Pelnar

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 10:00 PM

William Thomas "Puck" Pelnar, 80, of Menominee, Mich., passed away on Monday, July 8, 2013, at Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette, Wis. He was born on December 28, 1932, in Menominee to the late William J. and Mildred (Grandholm) Pelnar. William graduated from Menominee High School class of 1951. He became the first Menominee High School tennis player to win the Class B Upper Peninsula Singles championship. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Axelson and together they had three children. He later married the former Gerry (Lysakowski) Williams on June 22, 1996. William served his country honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean War, serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Newport News for nearly four years. While in the Navy, William played on the ships tennis team and in 1954 he won the Capt. Royce P. Davis Cup. He also participated in the Battleships and Cruisers of the Atlantic Fleet Tournament, placing second in the doubles competition. During the 1960's and 70's, Pelnar won numerous Twin City Tennis Tournaments in both singles and doubles. William became a reporter and worked for the former Menominee Herald-Leader and the former Marinette Eagle-Star, retiring after 33 years in the newspaper business. William is survived by his loving wife, Gerry Pelnar; two daughters: Jill (Matt) Francour of Menominee, Mich. and Jann Ciochetto of Marinette, Wis; one son, Gregg Pelnar of Florida; five grandchildren including: Christopher Pelnar, Lindsay (Darren) Olvy, Lauren Francour, Gabriella Pelnar and Michelle Ciochetto; his brother, Lowell (Louise) Pelnar of Menominee, Mich. and many other family members and friends. Along with his parents, William was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred "Babe" Raboin. A Memorial Service will be held for William at the Cadieu-Thielen Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 6 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until the time of services. Deacon Steve Gretzinger will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Menominee, Mich.